ESOCS Devotional 3 October 2022
TEXT: HOSEA 1:1–11
MEMORY VERSE: “When the LORD began to speak by Hosea, the LORD said to Hosea: “Go, take yourself a wife of harlotry and children of harlotry, For the land has committed great harlotry By departing from the LORD.” Hosea 1:2
0 And the apostles, when they had returned, told Him all that they had done. Then He took them and went aside privately into a deserted place belonging to the city called Bethsaida. 11 But when the multitudes knew it, they followed Him; and He received them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who had need of healing. 12 When the day began to wear away, the twelve came and said to Him, “Send the multitude away, that they may go into the surrounding towns and country, and lodge and get provisions; for we are in a deserted lace ”
Certain terms are used in the scripture to denote God’s relationship with His people. Sometimes they are portrayed as servants of God; sometimes His children; at other times His sheep. In New Testament terms, these are those who have been redeemed; who as Christ told Nicodemus, are born again. They are the Church, and the body of Christ. This category of people is special unto God; they are sanctified and separated unto Him; and God values their relationship with Him greatly.
In Hosea, God accuses the Children of Israel of whoredom, which in simple language is adultery; and by this is showing the kind of relationship He has with them. It is a personal and intimate relationship, which can only be likened to the relationship between a man and his wife.
Like in marriage, where the woman who was created from a part of man is reunited with him and bonded to him in marriage where both become one, man is a product of the breath of God and can only exist properly and rightly in God. God expects all men to return to Him and be bonded to Him in a covenant relationship. God’s people are therefore shown here as being married to Him. They are bonded with Him in a covenant relationship that demands that they have Him alone as God and are faithful unto Him; not desiring or turning to another. To depart from the Lord, as the Israelites did by turning to other gods, is likened to the sin of adultery. And turning away from the Lord is like a woman who abandons her marriage and walks out on a husband who loves and cares for her; a husband who has provided everything to make her happy and comfortable in marriage. Such a woman is wayward and rebellious. This is a grievous sin that no child of God should commit. The consequences are dire and the effect far reaching.
In the words of Jeremiah, to turn away from the Lord is to forsake the spring of living water and to dig your own cistern, broken cistern that cannot hold water (Jer. 2:13). We are best in the Lord our God. In Him we live and have our being. He is our life. To stray from Him, is to stray from life; and to reject Him, is to reject life.
CHALLENGES
- How do you think a man feels when his wife leaves him or follows another
- What is your assessment of an unfaithful wife
PRAYERS
- Father I thank you for the love you have for me. Give me the grace to remain steadfast and rooted in you. May my everyday life glorify you. Amen.
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ESOCS Devotional 3 October 2022
